Place your nand.bin in a secure folder, preferably in the same directory where you keep your BIOS files. Open melonDS: Open your melonDS.exe (or retroarch core). Navigate to Settings: Go to Config →right arrow DSi . Set File Paths: NAND File: Point this to your nand.bin . Firmware: Point this to dsi_firmware.bin .
Old DS Phat or DS Lite consoles do not have NAND memory in the same way. They use a firmware chip that is smaller. If you own an original DS, you will need to dump the (which MelonDS also requires), but for full DSi features, you cannot use an original DS. You must have a DSi.
Locate the newly created file. It is often named nand.bin or a string of numbers ending in .bin (e.g., dsi_nand.bin ). Setting Up nand.bin in melonDS
Once the nand.bin is loaded into melonDS, the emulator must read the file structure inside. Historically, this was a challenge for developers because the DSi uses a proprietary file system.
: If your settings or NAND changes aren't saving, ensure melonDS is installed in a protected directory like C:\Program Files , which can block the creation of necessary or save files. Do you need help dumping these files nand.bin melonds
When you launch MelonDS with a valid nand.bin :
This is the recommended method for any serious emulation enthusiast. Dumping your own console guarantees that the NAND image is complete, uncorrupted, and comes from a source you own. It is the most legal and secure method.
Even with the file in place, things can go wrong. Here are the fixes for the most common problems.
You will find websites offering pre-dumped nand.bin files for download. Place your nand
Since version 0.9, melonDS has supported experimental DSi emulation. To use this mode, the emulator requires four specific system files: : DSi ARM9 BIOS (64KB) bios7.bin : DSi ARM7 BIOS (64KB) firmware.bin : DSi Firmware (128KB) nand.bin : The NAND image (typically ~240MB) How to Get Your nand.bin
Before diving into the setup process, it's critical to address the elephant in the room: the legality of obtaining BIOS and NAND files. These files are copyrighted by Nintendo. As a general rule across the emulation community, you should only download BIOS, firmware, and NAND files if they are from a console you personally own. Sharing or downloading these files from the internet is a violation of copyright law.
Use the "Manage DSi titles" feature in melonDS to install or import games. How to Get and Set Up nand.bin
Related search suggestions (you can use these to find guides and tools) (See below for quick search terms to continue researching.) functions.RelatedSearchTerms("suggestions":["suggestion":"how to dump nand.bin from Nintendo DSi","score":0.9,"suggestion":"melonDS nand.bin setup guide","score":0.9,"suggestion":"DSi firmware dump tools","score":0.7]) Set File Paths: NAND File: Point this to your nand
melonDS has revolutionized Nintendo DS emulation, particularly with its exceptional, high-accuracy support for the Nintendo DSi. While standard DS emulation requires only BIOS files, unlocking the full potential of DSi emulation—including DSiWare, the DSi camera, and the native DSi system menu—requires a nand.bin file.
One of the best reasons to use a nand.bin is to play . melonDS includes a built-in manager for this:
Right-click your nand.bin file on your computer, select Properties , and ensure the Read-only attribute checkbox is unchecked.
Practical notes for users